From: lishka@uwslh.slh.wisc.edu (a.k.a. Chri)
Subject: Re: Shaper by Zelazny (plus fiction by Philip K. Dick)
Date: Sat, 9 Mar 91 15:45:54 GMT
Organization: Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene



GENOL%UCCMVSA.BITNET@uccvma.ucop.edu (Genevieve Engel) writes:

>I was unable to locate a book containing "Shaper" but found several
>references to "He Who Shapes."  A story called "He Who Shapes" is
>included in The Last Defender of Camelot, by Roger Zelazny, Pocket
>Books, 1980.
>
>Don't know if this is the same story or not.

It is ... I have read this story in _The_Last_Defender_of_Camelot_.

>The Dream Master, Ace Books 1966, is supposed to be
>a longer version of a serialized story "He Who Shapes" which
>appeared in Amazing Stories in 1964.

I have never heard of this, though.  I will have to look it up.

----------
Another novel related to Virtual Reality is an excellent story (IMHO)
by Philip K. Dick called _The_Maze_of_Death_.  Unfortunately, my copy
is at home, so I don't have the publication information right now
(mail me a message if you would like it).  

I don't want to go into the VR aspects of the novel for fear of
destroying the plot (just telling you about it having VR destroys some
of the surprise).  Suffice it to say that you *must* read all the way
to the end to get to the VR...do not quit in the middle!

The book is well worth reading.  Philip K. Dick (for those who don't
know) was heavily into writing about alternate realities.  To my
knowledge, most of these did not involve virtual reality, per se, but
did explore other simulated realities based on drug use, attempts to
rewrite history, and mental illness.  Of the many P.K.Dick novels I
have read, _The_Maze_of_Death_ is my favorite so far. 

                                        .oO Chris Oo.
-- 
Christopher Lishka 608-262-4485     It is not safe out here.  It is wonderous,
Wisconsin State Lab. of Hygiene     with treasures to satiate desires both
   lishka@uwslh.slh.wisc.edu        subtle and gross.  But it is not for the
   uunet!uwvax!uwslh!lishka         timid. -- Q